I really fell in love with citrus last year. Bought one Meyer lemon and have already eaten three from the tree. So. . . bought another Meyer this spring and a Key Lime. I fertilized them all (very lightly, not even a handful of 'citrus tone') the oldest Meyer Lemon' leaves are turning yellow and are dropping off (this tree has tiny fertilized lemons on it and flowers still in bloom ). The second Meyer Lemon the youngest just has its leaves turning yellow and dropping off. The Key Lime tree is holding its own. (It arrived as a skinny topiary shape) I've only seen them grow in the Florida Keys as a bush. Was the tiny handful of fertilizer the culprit?? All three live outside during the summer. I am in Newport, RI and we have been getting tons of rain. They are all potted in Al's Gritty mix. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Mrs. G

Was this one that Walmart was selling in a black pot calling it a cocktail? If so its not a true cocktail. It is actually 2 separate cuttings. What Im getting at is you have 2 trees in one pot. next spring you may think about separating them into their own. a true cocktail is multiply scions grafted to one rootstock. Did you recently move it inside? Could be shock from the move to lower light levels. I would for sure remove all the fruit. mike

Hi Digger...Oh boy, I can't imagine which pests were living on your citrus..little pinpoint, running bugs?? What's odd is the fact foliage remained green..Most bugs leave evidence of their existence.. I did some research via plant books. The only tiny insects listed in one book: aphids, mites, leafrollers, and thrips, (whitefly, too, but they fly) that curl leaves, are those I mentioned, but they cause damage to foliage..(discolor/deform) According to one book, (Citrus, by Lance Walheim) insecticides for Thrips shouldn't be used..They recommend natural predators. Some people haven't any problems using harsh chemicals...I prefer organics...mainly because I have birds and worry about these guys inhaling something that might hurt/cause death. Have you tried oils? It's less harmful to humans, pets, and the environment, including the plant. I'm sure extreme heat or cold can cause leaf curl, too. Did you say your citrus are outside? What's the coldest it gets? What about wind? Both cold and strong gusts causes leaf curl, but that still doesn't answer your question about the insects..Unless your tree has 2 problems.. If your citrus is sitting outside, in a non-sheltered area, perhaps you should place them elsewhere.. Digger, I wish I had an answer..For the time being, keep an eye on your tree/s...Check to see if bugs return, and discolored/deformed foliage. Oh the weather outside in frightful..LOL..actually, as of the last two weeks, we haven't had sun, and last weekend had an ice storm. The humidity is low, and of course, my humidifer filter is packed and needs replacing. Even though I mist daily, and use an indoor fountain, the humidity's about 32% which is low..I prefer 50 and up.. Do you get a lot of rain in winter? If so, is it icy rain? One advantage is an increase in humidity, on the other hand, if your citrus are sitting in ice you'll have nothing but problems..Keep roots from freezing, Digger.. I'm sure you know what you're doing..You mentioned lights..do you use anything else for protection? I have a small 8x12 gh..most citrus reside in the gh during winter months, then are summered outdoors. Remaining citrus are in a back room before south and east windows..the room is semi-unheated. Meaning, the only heat it gets is from 2 rooms over. It doesn't dip under 50, usually..that's at night..65-68 during daylight hours. We've a little snow on the ground, which brightens things up a bit, (sun reflects off snow) plus all my rooms are painted semi-gloss white, (white paint also reflects sun.) Keep me posted on your citrus..How many do you have? Which types? You take care, and Happy Holidays, Toni

Alright guys, time to mix it up. Literally :) My trees are doing good right now, Forecast for this week is thunderstorms today and tomorrow, then hot and sunny for the rest of the week... Soooo, here we go. This is what I have to work with. I need help figuring the proportions. 1. Farfard Custom Mix. It's quite a bit finer than the 52 they were supposed to send, but oh well, what's done is done and this is what I have. To help with the coarseness, I bought coarse perlite: and finally, bark: So, there you are, Meyer lemon gurus. How much of what would you add to that Farfard mix? As always, thanks for the help and guidance :) Atheen